Retired Iowa senator Tom Harkin, the fatherof the ADA, which incidentally just celebratedits 28th birthday, gave a speech at theDemocrat National Convention. Harkin’s deceasedbrother is deaf, hence the senator’s lifelonginterest in helping the deaf. Take a lookat the audience sign language at:

DeafDigest has mentioned that Taco Bell inNew Jersey invited a lawsuit by a deafwoman for refusing to serve her at thedrive in window. Taco Bell bad? Well,there was another story of a Taco Bellhearing employee, knowing ASL, helpinga deaf customer place order. The deafpatron needed an explanation on the foodhe wanted to order, and the hearingemployee used his sign language to help out.So, Taco Bell, good?

— deaf winner, Samuel Adams Brewing competition

The Samuel Adams Brewing American Dream PitchCompetition in Mission Beach, CA, took placethis week. There were two winners; one of themis deaf – Rasool Raheem, Deaf Man’s BBQ. Hisreward is a chance to compete for $10,000 inthe national championship in Boston. Alongwith the cash, he would get one year freementorship from business experts. He hadto sign ASL in two minutes to impress thejudges that his Deaf BBQ is the best.

Cheryl Henwood is a British hearing nurse, anda mother of three deaf children. She cheatedthe British government of nearly $135,000by claiming disability benefits for her deafchildren. The money she got illegally wasspent on holiday trips, a jet-ski and a pethorse. She, and her husband were both earningcomfortable incomes from their jobs! She isnow facing court charges with possibleforfeiture of her bank account, dismissalfrom her job as nurse and possibleprison time. A picture is at:

DeafDigest editor vacationed in Portugaland flew by United Airlines. Technicallyairlines are not subject to ADA regulations(captioned movies) if flown over foreignland. It was a pleasant surprise tobe able to watch a few subtitled moviesthat United carried! Deaf passengersneed to click on “international films”and look for films that are subtitled,and not dubbed in voice.

— deaf in political party conventions

There is a story of a group of deaf peopleattending the Democratic National Convention,with interpreters and with captions. Whatabout the Republicans? There were nonewspaper stories about the deaf at theRepublican National Convention, only ofthe Democratic National Convention?Why? DeafDigest editor will not draw upconclusions!

A typical Starbucks outlet is chaotic. Customers shout out their orders; baristas write down order and customer name on the cup; baristas also shout out the customers’ names for them to pick up their orders. Can get quite confusing, noisy and chaotic. In Malaysia, this chaotic system has been stopped – for the sake of ten deaf baristas that want to take orders. For that reason, digital screens have been posted onthe wall. See the picture at:

Deaf people love to travel and Isaac Liang, a deaf man from Singapore, is probably the most unusual traveler. He will travel to China and Taiwan despite not knowing Chinese language and traveling alone. He depends on gestures to get directions since written notes are useless. He does not want to travel with a group. His goal is to travel everywhere. Will he beat the late Irwin Bosch, who has traveled to 106 nations before passing away.

— ASL-like hearing people at airport

DeafDigest editor, waiting for his airplane trip to Portugal, saw a large group of hearing passengers, seemingly communicating with each other in ASL. These people were going back home to Madrid. He remembered visiting Madrid few years ago and just about everyone in the city would gesture out every word, which looked like ASL! It was an interesting cultural shock.

There was an article that praised the old Star Trekseries as the best for using deaf and disabledactors. It mentioned deaf actor Howard Seagoas Riva, using telepathy to communicate withhis three interpreters. And that when CaptainPicard spoke to the interpreter, Riva scoldedhim for bad manners. A picture is at:

Deaf people wave their hands instead ofclapping. At a school in Sydney, Australia,classroom clapping is not permitted. Why?The teacher is deaf and the schooladministration wanted to show respect forher deafness!

— Australia not allowing deaf jurors

There is a case in High Court right now inAustralia (equivalent to our Supreme Court)concerning Gaye Lyon, a deaf woman, notallowed to serve on jury. Well, there wasa big case in Pennsylvania during themid-eighties on the same thing. Thedeaf woman won and was able to serve ona jury. It came at a big price – $5,000in legal fees. If it happened today,it would be $15,000-$20,000.

DeafDigeest editor is touring Portugal andvisited the University of Salamanca (in Spain,but near Portugal). It was leearned thatlectures at old University of Salamanca campuswere in in total darkness. If a deaf studenttook classes, then darkness may prevent himfrom success. The new University of Salamancacampus, however, is modern. A picture is at:

The deaf people of Connecticut had interpretersfor years. Suddenly – no more. Governor DannelMalloy is trying to save money by laying offinterpreters. This sudden shutdown came withno warning. DeafDigest hopes Malloy will realizehis error and restore full interpeting servicesThis shutdown has become a nightmare forhim because Deaf Community is fighting back.

— DC actors angry at Gallaudet University

People love watching plays at Fringe theatersanywhere in USA, especially in Washington, DC.For the first time, plays are being shown onthe Gallaudet campus – but it has createdproblems. Gallaudet requires full accessibility,something the Fringe people did not reallyrealize. If there is no solution, thenthe Fringe groups may leave Gallaudet next year.